Technology run amok
Jim Thompson
By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist
It has been quite a week in the world of technology.
The second most valuable company in the world, Nvidia, loses its CEO to basic human urges (more on this in a minute).
Microsoft offers a voluntary lay off to 60,000 employees and tops that with a complete failure of its email system.
The FAA has to shut down the domestic airline system due to a software glitch.
If one is a conspiracy theorist, one could have a field day.
Let’s take them one at a time.
The Nvidia problems lie at the feet of the board of directors. Most modern contracts between company heads and a company call out “moral turpitude” as a reason for immediate dismissal.
Additionally, there are two other problems. The first is the CEO had 60 people reporting to him directly. There is no management book on earth that would support this configuration. Finally, there was no succession plan.
This is a company critical to our national security. The stockholders ought to vote out the entire board at the next annual meeting.
Microsoft is trying to come up with the money to participate in AI expansion like the other behemoths. Hence, cut employment. If they don’t get enough volunteers, expect them to make the program mandatory after the first of the year.
I haven’t used Microsoft’s Outlook for years. And I don’t use Word or Excel, either. There are plenty of free clones out there.
The FAA is, of course, blaming a contractor – L3Harris. I am familiar with this finger pointing. Blaming a contractor is usually safe, but the question is, to whom was the contractor reporting and were they properly vetted? That is a home-grown responsibility.
As the world gets more technologically advanced, expect more disruptions. Be grateful when they don’t cause humans or animals any harm.
I just finished writing the last sentence and then thought about children, phones and computer pads. We’ll save those for another time.
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.